The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-15
LYNcH1NG BEE AT RAwL1Ns.
And the Escape of Joe Chambers From
the Gallow
From the Mail aud Express.


tinction of being considered by Western
men the worst place between the oceans I'M
til Rawlins came into prominence. l passed
one night in Rawlins in the fall of 1878,
and then | came to the conclusion that life
in any other town would be tame and with.
out excitement in comparison with the
pleasures which that place could afford
No one alighting from the cars in the quiet
street in Rawlins would believe that the
many stories of bloodshed told of it We're
true. On one side of the railroad track
stood big barn-like building called the
United States Hotel, and on the other a row
of twenty or thirty one-story frame houses,
almost every one of which was a barroom
with gambling house attached Over the
door hung such signs as 1.-THE Cowboys Re
treat, F" 1.-The Divan," and ''The Frontiers
mans Delight" Behind the town OH the
top of a hin was situated the city grave
yard an immense cross, which could be seen
from great distance, stood at the top of
the hill and served as landmark for tray
elers for miles and miles across the barren
prairies. That graveyard was the pride
of every man that lived in Rawlins The
inhabitants watched it grow, and pointed
with pleasure to the fact that there
was hardly d man taking his final rest
there who had not come to his death by vio-
lence
1t was toward afternoon when halted
my horse in front of the United States Hotel
after forty-mile ride. Heavily armed men
stood about in groups. The looks thrown at
me were far from reaSsuring, but pretend
ed not to see them, and fastened into the
hotel Hardly had taken my seat in the
dining room when four men, evidently
forming a delegation, approached me. They
demanded my business, and what brought
mo to Rawlins, in way which left me no
alternative but to answer. My answers
seemed satisfactory, and one of them in
formed me the reason of their curiosity.
They had some idea that | was u Deputy
Sheriff, and frankly told me that if 1
had been ] should have been escorted out
of town, as no government officers were
wanted about Rawlins that night They
further informed me that there was
to be one of the prettiest lynching bees
in town that night that had ever taken
place.
Three men had come to Rawlins ten
weeks before, and had taken the town by
storm. They had made their headquarters
at tavern almost opposite the hotel, and
had levied tax on every one who entered,
Anybody who objected to paying or stand
ing treat was beaten, and when resistance
was shown pistols were used. Ten men had
received their death wounds from these
three men, and the town had determined to
hanging the three without further cere
mony 1t was not easy, however, to accom-
plish this, as they were inurenched in the
baTroom and refused to come out or to allow
any one to enter 1t had been determined
to dislodge them that night, in spite of all
resistance, and was invited to take part in
the affair. The three men were named
Joseph Chambers, Jack Willis, and
Wat Simmons, and were desperate outlaws
with larora SIMS nnOn their heads
Just at dark the citizens at Rawlins pre-
pared for battle. The attacking parties were
divided into two forces. One approached the
point of attack from the rear, while the
larger number marched up to the front,
All the citizens wore handkerchlefs over
their faces. was with the main body of
attackers, or rather behind it. We were
brought to a sudden halt by rifle shot from
one of the windows of the besieged house,
and one of our leaders fell. Every means
was tried to dislodge the three men, but to
no purpose. Every time the slightest adj
vance was made their rifles rang out, and
some one on our side dropped. At last a
small man slipped up in the shadow of the
adjacent buildings, and threw lighted can
of kerosene under the building, Soon it be-
gan to burn, but still the men would not
come out At last the house was enveloped
in fames and the three men were obliged
TO make a rush for their lives. They
were half blinded by the heat and smoke
of the burning; so they were quickly cap
Uured.
Then all of the citizens of Rawlins, not
excepting the women and children, formed
in line aud marched quietly down to the
cattle pens, where an old dead tree stood
which had served several times as gallows.
A rope had been brought along, and it was
quickly thrown over branch, and every
thing was ready for the hanging, 1t was
at first intended to dispose of all three at
the same time, but there was not enough
rope, so it was decided chang one at time.
Jack Willis was the first to be strung up;
his end was fastened by a dozen bullets
which were fired into the body while it was
still whitening. Wat Simmons was then
disposed of, and then came the turn of
Joseph Chambers, the leader of the gang.
Just as he was led under the tree he made
sign that he had something to say. The
gag was removed from his mouth and he
said:
'sIf you will take this rope from round my
neck and slightly loosen these bonds, will
tell you men something that will interest
you all"
There seemed no danger with SO many
on guard, so his request was complied with.
When his letters were loosened he rose,
stretched himself, and began his speech:
"You are set of d villains" he
yelled, land you can all go 10 Il.
He knocked down the two men nearest to
him and made a dash for the sage brush ON
the open prairie All the horses were left
outside the barroom when the desperadoes
were captured Some few mon, however,
dashed into the sage after Chambers,
which made it impossible for the men I'M
der the tree to use their guns lest they hit
some of the pursuers After an hours
useless chase the hunt was given up for the
night.
A daylight tho next morning a ranch
man rode into Rawlins and electrified the
town by saying that he had seen Chambers
near Fort Fred Steed, sixteen m4es below
He said he had just finished his breakfast,
after spending the night at a small house on
the banks of the Platte river, when a hat
less man, whom he recognized as Chambers,
came in and demanded shelter. The ranch
man suspected that something was wrong
from the mans manner, and at once started
for Rawlins to give the alarm. Thirty men
Immediately saddled their horses and started
in pursuit Of the man they had vowed to
hang. AS they approached the hut man
approached the door with Winchester rife
iu his hand. Without word he opened fire
on the advancing party. Two men. dropped
from their saddles, and as the rest OF the
party put spurs to their horses and dashed
toward the hut, Chambers, who had done
the shooting, rushed down the hill and
II. - Al DI-A@A h..I hnot